Virgin Family transfer - 30 day expiry

[kreuky]

I have been trying to consolidate my family accounts into one, and talking to them on the phone, there's a new condition to be wary of that was relatively recently implemented with ZERO documentation anywhere and no one seems to be talking about it. I didn't believe it and HUACA a few days later and they said the same thing. So just a PSA since I don't think many people know about this.

Any family transferred points will expire after 30 days unless:
- Account is Silver, Gold or Platinum member
- Any amount of points are earnt or redeemed into account (except for additional family points transfers)

Very negative change and unannounced. I found this Ozbargain thread from earlier in the year so it's been going on for a few months. But no documentation on their website about it

Velocity Frequent Flyer - Family Points Transfer Expiry?

www.ozbargain.com.au

 

[justinbrett]

I would assume this means if the account itself has had no activity. Basically family transfers don’t count as activity so if there’s been no activity within 2 years then they would expire after a month.

If you transfer into an active account they would expire with the rest of the points, they wouldn’t have their own expiry.

 

[serfty]

It's bad enough they have gone offline and can only do by calling during Velocity Hours.

Transferring Points to the account of an eligible family member via our website is temporarily offline. Points transfer is still available by calling our Membership Contact Centre. We apologise for any inconvenience. Fees for transferring Points through the Membership Contact Centre are being waived at this time. Please have your membership details ready for our Membership Contact Centre agent to process.

Family Points Transfer

www.velocityfrequentflyer.com

I wonder if this is related to this ...

Velocity Family Transfers Online Suspended

Family Transfer been suspended online can only transfer over the phone.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[PDog]

I have been trying to consolidate my family accounts into one, and talking to them on the phone, there's a new condition to be wary of that was relatively recently implemented with ZERO documentation anywhere and no one seems to be talking about it. I didn't believe it and HUACA a few days later and they said the same thing. So just a PSA since I don't think many people know about this.

Any family transferred points will expire after 30 days unless:
- Account is Silver, Gold or Platinum member
- Any amount of points are earnt or redeemed into account (except for additional family points transfers)

Very negative change and unannounced. I found this Ozbargain thread from earlier in the year so it's been going on for a few months. But no documentation on their website about it

Velocity Frequent Flyer - Family Points Transfer Expiry?

www.ozbargain.com.au

(my bolding) That's always been the case. I'm guessing you haven't earned or redeemed points recently?

Get yourself a flybuys card, spend a couple of dollars at Coles & swipe your flybuys card and you've added 2 years to the life of your points

I wonder if this is related to this ...

Velocity Family Transfers Online Suspended

Family Transfer been suspended online can only transfer over the phone.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

I suspect the family transfer by phone is related to what seems to be a spike in Fraudulent transfers. I called up to transfer recently, and it was fast and painless (albeit def not as easy as online!)
The heading of that thread on it's own is misleading, it'd be good if the word online was added.

We need a 'community notes' ability on AFF!

 

[kreuky]

I would assume this means if the account itself has had no activity. Basically family transfers don’t count as activity so if there’s been no activity within 2 years then they would expire after a month.

If you transfer into an active account they would expire with the rest of the points, they wouldn’t have their own expiry.

Nope even if the account has been active - say for example my last activity was in July 2024 and i family transferred 100k on Aug 1, the 100k will expire on Sep1 if there has been no other non family transfer activity and you have no status.

Personally, not affected, as I have flybuys linked, but still good to know as other people have been caught out as per the OzB thread.

 

[justinbrett]

Nope even if the account has been active - say for example my last activity was in July 2024 and i family transferred 100k on Aug 1, the 100k will expire on Sep1 if there has been no other non family transfer activity and you have no status.

Personally, not affected, as I have flybuys linked, but still good to know as other people have been caught out as per the OzB thread.

Well that’s clearly a bug and not a feature. There has been no rule change.

 

[PDog]

Nope even if the account has been active - say for example my last activity was in July 2024 and i family transferred 100k on Aug 1, the 100k will expire on Sep1 if there has been no other non family transfer activity and you have no status.

Personally, not affected, as I have flybuys linked, but still good to know as other people have been caught out as per the OzB thread.

An additional family transfer keeps points alive, but activity doesn't? Sorry, I really think you've misunderstood what Velocity have told you.

I have no status, but my account is active: I transferred 225k points last month (2 transfers) and there was no mention of that.

I wouldn't get too hung up on that OzB thread, where first it was a cousin transferring points, and then a partner...

 

[kreuky]

"if there has been no other non family transfer activity"
Other activity keeps it from expiring. Family transfers do not.

 

[kreuky]

Well that’s clearly a bug and not a feature. There has been no rule change.

No documentation, but it has been clearly communicated to myself multiple times and many others (based on the OzB post as well as few reddit ones) over the phone that that is the new policy.

Feel free to test it out with a small transfer and let us know

 

[justinbrett]

Nope even if the account has been active - say for example my last activity was in July 2024 and i family transferred 100k on Aug 1, the 100k will expire on Sep1 if there has been no other non family transfer activity and you have no status.

Personally, not affected, as I have flybuys linked, but still good to know as other people have been caught out as per the OzB thread.

The OzB thread shows no indication it was an active account.

Call centres get things wrong all the time. The T&Cs are the source of truth on this.

You need to disregard points transfers as any activity. If you had a flybuys credit within the last two years, the family transfer points would expire the same time as the flybuys points. That could be 30 days for some, and the OzB thread said it was a new account opened for this purpose.

 

[oz_mark]

AFAIK, there has been no rule change. I think the 30 day thing may be relevant if you transfer to an inactive account (rather than immediately expiring them)

Not sure what happens in the case of a new account that has had no activity at all.